Isle of Makrykythera Loop

Arriving with the ferry to Kythera Island, there is the possibility of hiking directly at the port! Trail M39 encircles Makrykythera, the islet on which everyone sets foot, while coming to Kythera by boat. Makrykythera has also a protected bay for mooring. It is a place seemingly to be barren and inhospitable; however, locals make the most out of it by collecting natural salt and “vrachosalates” (wild greens), and by fishing in the well-known fishing spots of the area. The trail passes through Chochlakoura, the nearest spot to the shipwreck of Nordland, which has now become not only a symbol of Kythera but also one of the most famous scuba diving locations in Greece. In 2000, the ship hit the rocky islet Prasonisi, which is a protected area for its distinctive flora as well as the colony of Audouin’s gull and other seabirds. The new “old path” was built by a resident of Diakofti, who carved the sharp rocks of Makrykythera with his own hands, in order to offer to the visitors an easy but impressive coastal trail.